Saudi Arabia: The Sanaa meetings are positive and will be completed as soon as possible

Saudi Arabia described the meetings hosted by the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, as "optimistic and positive," stressing that "they will be completed as soon as possible." Last week, two delegations from Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman held talks with leaders of the Houthi group on ways to extend the armistice and bring peace to Yemen.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that the meetings hosted by the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, last week were "optimistic and positive," stressing that it "needs more consultations and will be completed as soon as possible."

And the Foreign Ministry stated, in a statement, that "the Saudi team, headed by its ambassador to Yemen, Muhammad Al Jaber, held a series of meetings from 8 to 13 April in Sana'a."

She emphasized that the meetings " witnessed in-depth discussions on many issues related to the humanitarian situation, the release of all prisoners, a cease-fire and a comprehensive political solution in Yemen."

She pointed out that "the meetings and discussions were characterized by transparency in an optimistic and positive atmosphere."

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said, "Given the need for more discussions, these meetings will be completed as soon as possible, leading to a comprehensive and sustainable political solution acceptable to all Yemeni parties."

On Saturday, April 8, two delegations from Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman launched talks with leaders of the Houthi group in Sanaa, on ways to extend the armistice and establish peace in Yemen.

On Wednesday, two government and political sources revealed to Anadolu Agency, "tangible progress" in the consultations of the delegations of Riyadh and Muscat with the Houthis in the capital, Sana'a.

On Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition announced, in a statement, the arrival of 16 Saudi prisoners and 3 Sudanese to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in exchange for the release of 250 Houthi prisoners, who left the kingdom for Sanaa.

On Saturday, the Yemeni government announced the end of the second phase of the prisoner exchange process with the Houthi group, with the exchange of 371 prisoners between the two sides.

By the end of the first and second phases, the number of prisoners released by both sides will be 391.

Regional and international efforts are escalating to renew a 6-month truce that ended on October 2, and the government and the Houthis are exchanging accusations of responsibility for the failure to extend it.

Yemen is suffering from a war that began after the Houthis took control of the capital, Sana'a, and several provinces at the end of 2014, and the conflict intensified since March 2015, after the intervention of an Arab military coalition led by Saudi Arabia to support the legitimate government forces in confronting the Iran-backed Houthi group.